Piper PA-46 Jetprop Accident at Pongola, South Africa (ZS-JJJ)

Accident Overview and Context On 13 January 2021, a Piper PA-46-350P Jetprop DLX aircraft, registered as ZS-JJJ, was involved in an accident in South Africa. The aircraft was operating under private Part 91 provisions. The pilot, who was also the owner, had previously reported engine power issues on 9 December 2020 and 20 December 2020. Despite maintenance checks and ground runs that showed satisfactory parameters, the aircraft experienced a power loss again during the accident flight. The pilot intended to practise instrument flight approaches at Pongola Aerodrome (FAPL) for a licence renewal. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff from Koedoesberg Game Farm private airstrip in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The pilot elected to execute a forced landing on a gravel road 500 metres from the threshold of Runway 11. The aircraft touched down hard, the undercarriage collapsed, and the propeller blades struck the ground and broke off. The aircraft came to rest on its fuselage. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was admitted to hospital. Examination of the engine revealed two loose B-nuts at the P3 air-filter housing, which caused an air leak that could have led to a reduction in engine power during takeoff. The probable cause was identified as an in-flight engine power loss resulting in an unsuccessful forced landing. Contributing factors included disregard for standard safe operating procedures by the pilot/owner.